The Open, Ironborough Games and More

What is the Open

For many of you that are new with us you may have heard some chatter amongst people about “The Open”. Some of you are probably wondering what that even is and why are people talking so much about it. Here is a nice video explaining what the Open is.

Ok so you watched the video and are probably thinking “Are you crazy? I just started CrossFit. There is no way I can do this.” Or you also may have said “I’m not going to the games so why bother?”

Normally Crossfit competitions are intimidating… going to different gyms and competing against people you don’t know can be overwhelming. However, this is the best part about the open! Every workout is done in the gym with the people you train with every day. So there are no surprises or curveballs, you can use your favorite bar, listen to your favorite song, or claim your favorite spot on the floor with no problem!

The fact of the matter is there is no “fit enough” or “level of fitness” needed to compete in the open. The workouts can be done as Rx’d or scaled and still be scored and compared to people all over the world. At the end of the day its all for fun and the open gives you a chance to push yourself harder than you would during a normal workout… and I know you’ll surprise yourself with what you’re actually capable of!

The Ironborough Games

So not only does the Open take place for 5 weeks February and March but it also coincides with the Ironborough Games. Now you are thinking “Oh great what the heck is this now”

Last year, over 40 members of the Ironborough family members tried their hand at CrossFit “competition and yes there is a scaled option so don’t worry.

Our goals at Ironborough is to educate and inspire. Competition helps with the ‘inspire’ part: the pressure to perform pushes you to train harder; the social boost of dozens of your best friends cheering for you will help you reach a higher plane. Heck, watching your teammates GO is inspiring.

Can we bring that worldwide thrill home? Can we deliver all the fun of competition without causing any anxiety attacks? We think so.

Through the Open, we’re going to have four intramural teams competing. And you’re going to be on one of them. The Four Intramural teams don’t have names yet. But their Captains will be chosen soon.

Yep, we chose the FUN bunch to Captain, not our traditional top scorers. We want you to sign up this year.

REGISTRATION

Registration for the Open can be done at games.crossfit.com, and choose CrossFit Ironborough as your Affiliate.

DRAFT

Every athlete registered for the Open will be drawn from a hat. Team Captains will rotate draws, and then notify the athletes of their team. The ‘Draft Party’ will take place the week before the Open begins (Feb 23.)

If you have not registered for the Open that’s where you come in. You’ll be courted by one of our Team Captains to join their team – probably more than one. Pick the funnest team!

POINTS

+1 Point – Attendance: every member of a team that completes an Open workout at Ironborough each week earns one point. Maximum one point per athlete per workout. This goes for Rx AND Scaled competitors!

+1 Point – Top 3: every male AND female member who places among the Top 3 at Ironborough for each workout (Rx only) gets an extra point for their team.

+1 Point – Attending Friday Night Lights. More Information below.

+5 Points (team) – Spirit: The team with the most noise, pride, and PRESENCE each week will receive 5 bonus points.

WORKOUTS

In 2016, athletes competing in the Open will have Friday to complete their workout. Like the previous years each class on Friday is devoted the Open workout. That gives you all day to get the workout done.

PRIZES

We’ll have some random draws each week for prizes, including gear, supplements, and training packages. The top team will also earn a GRAND prize. Details released soon!

Our focus is on FUN. We want participation because it will make you fitter, and it will get you high-fives and you’ll be happy and love life more and glow and stuff.

Register online at the CrossFit Games site, and let’s start this party!

Open Prep

If all of this has you a bit overwhelmed don’t worry, thats where Brian has your back. He is running an Open Prep Course to get you ready for the 5 weeks.

It will cover common movements we see in the Open, strategy and mobility drills to prep you for those movements.

The cost of the program is $165. You will meet Thursday night and Sunday each week leading right up to the open. And yes there will be workouts during his program.